To boil it down, there are essentially two different types of color your colorist can use to cover gray hair—demi-permanent or permanent. Demi-permanent haircolor options, like Redken’s range of Shades EQ acidic haircolor, deliver non-permanent pigment that will gradually fade over time. “Demi-permanent colors don’t cover the gray so much as they color it, making gray hairs blend in more with the overall color and look almost like a highlight,” explains Redken Artist Jason Gribbin. The big benefit to taking this route is less maintenance. With demi-permanent haircolor, the grow-out process is much less noticeable, and you’ll be able to go longer in between salon appointments. 

lWHAT IS PERMANENT COLOR?

On the other side of the spectrum is permanent color, which completely covers gray hair, delivering a more solid and uniform result, says Gribbin.  His analogy? Picture a piece of wood. Staining it would have the same effect as demi-permanent color—you’d still be able to see the natural grain and there’d be variation in the shades and tone. Permanent color would be like taking brown paint and painting the board so that it’s totally and completely covered.

lSO, WHY IS PERMANENT COLOR THE BEST WAY TO COVER GRAY HAIR?

“When you want that immediate satisfaction of leaving the salon and no longer seeing any grays whatsoever, permanent haircolor is the way to go,” says Gribbin. If that sounds like your haircolor goal, talk to your colorist about Redken’s Color Gels Lacquers permanent haircolor. The low-ammonia formula packs exceptional gray coverage, resulting in maximum gray coverage and high shine results, no matter what percentage of gray you have in your hair. You can learn more about the benefits of Color Gels Lacquers

lREMIND ME: WHAT IS A SINGLE PROCESS HAIR COLOR APPLICATION?

Gray coverage with permanent color often requires a single process haircolor service. With a single process service, your colorist will apply the color, let it sit and process, then rinse it off and you’re good to go. Compare that to a technique such as highlighting, where, post-rinse there’s usually another type of color (such as a gloss) applied. So yes, while permanent color may require slightly more frequent trips to the salon because those new grays will be more noticeable once they start to appear, the benefit is that those single process coloring appointments to cover your grays will be short and sweet.